Can't see when welding

[Porkman]

Try adding some ambient light and often times, one of those gold lenses can really 'brighten' up the view.

 

[bikerdib]

Yes, before I bought my first auto I always used the gold lenses.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My major welding problem as well. I still need to source the reading (correction) lense for my helmit.

Ticks me off! I have a friend that has welded every day for forty years and he can see like a hawk! You would think, that just getting flashed every now and then would have made him blind by now!

 

[Gary Fowler]

My eyes don't see so well at night but I have never had problems with seeing a welding arc except when my HF auto dark setting got turned to 12 accidently. It didn't take me long to figure out something was wrong and checked the setting. Turned it back to 9 and it was OK then. IF you cant see the weld puddle, then you need to reposition yourself so you can. Even a 110V MIG should produce enough light to see the puddle if you are correctly positioned and the wire contact tube has the correct stick out.

Folks please don't use any thing less than a 9 shade when TIG welding, If you do a lot of it, it will be damaging to your eyes. TIG welding produces a lot more UV light (even though the arc seems smaller) than stick or FCAW because the smoke from these shields a lot of the UV from your eyes.

 

[Mysfyt]

I think its your helmet. If I used 9 on my Speedglass helmet it would be too bright for Mig. In fact, 10 is as low as I go for anything including Tig.

 

[kevin37b]

Is there protection plastic on the lense that did not get peeled off ?

 

[GPintheMitten]

Before you buy a different welding helmet, try adding more intense light and adjust your positioning to get a good look at the weld puddle. And double check your darkness setting.

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

try the cheater lens i tried glasses and you get a reflection from them ..been good with the cheater lens ..i ware 11/2 .glasses but put a 2 times in the helmet ..if your helmet dose not have a spot just put a dab of silicon on the lens and stick it in the helmet ..before that i made nice welds but 1/2 inch from the crack lol

 

[CountryB]

Same here. I have auto-darkening helmet which is too dark. I also have a Snap-On flip-down helmet which is the one I always reach for because the glass is lighter (you can buy different shades (inserts)). If I use the auto-helmet it get so dark I can't see the puddle (or the work). I like a real light shade - almost like wearing a dark pair of sunglasses. It's a #5 lens.

 

[Industrial Toys]

What about putting some reflector, maybe magnet mounted, that could redirect some of the light to give you a different angle of illumination?

 

[oldpilgrim]

The antra does have dual modes for 5 which is grinding all the way up to 13 so it has worked very well.

The specs say 5-9/10-13. What does that mean, two different select-able ranges.?

My current helmet goes down to 9...it's at 9.

There is no plastic stuck on the lens.

I did try shining a bright light on my work today, and it did help but I could still not see a glowing puddle. However I was able to just about l\make out where I was supposed to have the wire. Still not good though.

Someone mentioned 110v vs 220v. My welder is a Hobart 110v.

I'm going to get a new helmet that adjusts down to 8 and I'll get a cheater lens as well.

I appears I'm not alone with this problem by the responses I've gotten. Thanks all.

 

[joefromga]

My eyes don't see so well at night but I have never had problems with seeing a welding arc except when my HF auto dark setting got turned to 12 accidently. It didn't take me long to figure out something was wrong and checked the setting. Turned it back to 9 and it was OK then. IF you cant see the weld puddle, then you need to reposition yourself so you can. Even a 110V MIG should produce enough light to see the puddle if you are correctly positioned and the wire contact tube has the correct stick out.

Folks please don't use any thing less than a 9 shade when TIG welding, If you do a lot of it, it will be damaging to your eyes. TIG welding produces a lot more UV light (even though the arc seems smaller) than stick or FCAW because the smoke from these shields a lot of the UV from your eyes.

I don't think anyone here is saying they use 9 or less on tig welding. That would be dangerous and you'd probably feel the effects quickly. But I thought the hard lens in every helmet blocked uv rays dark or not.

 

[joefromga]

The specs say 5-9/10-13. What does that mean, two different select-able ranges.?

My current helmet goes down to 9...it's at 9.

Yes, one knob and one switch that selects low range and high range with the same knob.

 

[npalen]

Setting a portable light right next to and shining on the joint helps me. It does cause the helmet to "auto dark" though, so have to hold the other hand in front of the light until getting the arc started.

 

[flusher]

I use a $60 auto darkening helmet from Northern Tool for both stick and wire feed.

Before my cataract surgery, I wore my prescription glasses with clip on yellow tinted polarized aviator sunglasses under my helmet. No problem seeing the puddle.

With the implanted lenses I wear wrap around yellow tinted polarized aviator sunglasses rated UV400. You have to minimize the reflected UV radiation from getting into your helmet and then into your eyes via reflection off walls, etc. With those plastic implanted lenses, I never go outside without those sunglasses to protect those implanted lenses from UV degradation.

 

[cqaigy2]

I use a $60 auto darkening helmet from Northern Tool for both stick and wire feed.

Before my cataract surgery, I wore my prescription glasses with clip on yellow tinted polarized aviator sunglasses under my helmet. No problem seeing the puddle.

With the implanted lenses I wear wrap around yellow tinted polarized aviator sunglasses rated UV400. You have to minimize the reflected UV radiation from getting into your helmet and then into your eyes via reflection off walls, etc. With those plastic implanted lenses, I never go outside without those sunglasses to protect those implanted lenses from UV degradation.

That's good to know. I was wondering how UV would effect plastic lens implants.

 

[crystallake]

Another idea that helps my 64 yr old eyes is to mark the joint with a soapstone or a "silverstreak" pencil.

 

[Djames55]

Maybe the helmet needs a good cleaning...

 

[oldpilgrim]

Maybe the helmet needs a good cleaning...

The new helmet I ordered will solve that problem. I ordered this one based on a recommendation from a poster above and over 600 good reviews.

Antra AH6-660-101S Solar Power Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with AntFi X60-6 Wide Shade Range 4/5-9/9-13 with Grinding Feature Extra lens covers Good for Arc Tig Mig Plasma CSA/ANSI Certified By Colts Lab - - Amazon.com

Also ordered a cheater lens. I'm expecting great things !!!!

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Pilgrim, will you please let us know how the new helmet works out for you? As you can see, a lot of people are interested in your thread.